Man arrested in theft of newspaper box
LIBERTY -- A Mineral Ridge man said he planned to use change from a stolen Vindicator paper box to put gas into a stolen vehicle.
Daniel A. Hapsic, 40, of Main Street, Mineral Ridge, is set to appear in Girard Municipal Court today after a township officer on routine patrol spotted him in a stolen car with a Vindicator paper box in the trunk.
Hapsic is charged with receiving stolen property, theft and failure to appear on a traffic violation.
A passenger in the vehicle, 44-year-old Sheila Y. Fields of Volney Road, Youngstown, was also arrested on a warrant charging her with a parole violation. A second female passenger was released and not charged.
According to reports, Liberty Township Officer Eric Sewell was traveling along Belmont Avenue shortly before midnight Monday when he noticed a vehicle with the trunk open and a large orange object inside crossing Belmont onto Catherine Street.
Sewell ran the vehicle's registration and found it had been reported stolen by a relative of Hapsic's. When stopped and questioned by Sewell, Hapsic admitted taking the paper box from in front of Bob Evans restaurant on Belmont Avenue and said he planned to get change from the box to purchase gas for the vehicle, reports said.
Fields and Hapsic are being held in the Trumbull County Jail, pending court dates. Fields is being held with no bond, and Hapsic has been unable to post a $27,500 bond, court officials said.